WEBVTT ALYSSA: JACKIE, IT'S STILLUNCLEAR WHAT PROMPTED PITTSBURGHPOLICE OFFICERS TO DO THIS.THE MAN WHO TOOK THE VIDEO SAYSANOTHER OFFICER TOLD HIM THATTHE MAN THEY HAD PINNED ON THEGROUND THREATENED TO KILL ONE OFTHE OFFICERS.HE BELIEVES THAT DOESN'T JUSTIFYWHAT THEY DID TO HIM.THE CELLPHONE VIDEO ONLY LASTSTEN SECONDS, BUT THE IMPACT STICKS WITH THEPEOPLE WHO WITNESSED IT.MR. TROTT: YOU HAD SOME PEOPLECRYING, PEOPLE BEGGING THEPOLICE TO STOP.IT WAS HONESTLY, REALLY JUSTMORTIFYING TO WATCH SOMEBODY DOTHAT TO ANOTHER PERSON.ALYSSA: DAMIAN TROTT WAS OUT INTHE SOUTH SIDE, CELEBRATING HISCOLLEGE GRADUATION.HE NOTICED THE COMMOTION GOINGON IN FRONT OF THE FLATS ONCARSON, SO HE WENT OVER TO SEEWHAT WAS GOING ON.MR. TROTT: THEY THREW A COUPLEKNEES AT HIM. THEY KICKED HIM INTHE FACE.IT WAS REALLY JUST BRUTAL TOWATCH.ALYSSA: TROTT TRIED TOINTERVENE, BUT HE SAYSPITTSBURGH POLICE OFFICERSTHREATENED TO ARREST HIM ANDTAKE HIS PHONE.MR. TROTT: YOU'RE SUPPOSED TOLOOK AT THESE PEOPLE TO PROTECTYOU, AND YOU SEE STUFF LIKE THISHAPPENING SO OFTEN, IT REALLY JUST BREAKS THAT TRUSTBARRIER BETWEEN CITIZENS AND LAWENFORCEMENT.ALYSSA: PITTSBURGH POLICE TELLPITTSBURGH'S ACTION NEWS 4 THEYARE LOOKING INTO THIS, BUTWOULDN'T COMMENT ANY FURTHER.TROTT BELIEVES THIS MANSHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKETHIS.>> COME ON, MAN.MR. TROTT: I REALLY HATE TO SEETHIS TYPE OF STUFF HAPPENING.YOU KNOW, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEESOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT, TOWHERE WE CAN WORK ON BETTERPOLICING, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THISCOMMUNITY AND ALL OVER THECOUNTRY.ALYSSA: DAMIAN SAYS FROM WHAT HESAW, THE MAN WASN'T COMBATIVE ORFIGHTING BACK.WE DID REACH OUT TO PITTSBURGHPOLICE TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHATLED UP TO ALL OF THIS.ALL THEY WOULD SAY TO THAT, TOUS, WAS THAT THEY HAVE TURNED

The violent arrest of a man accused of threatening a bar security worker with a gun was recorded by a witness on a busy Pittsburgh street.

"You had some people crying, people begging the police to stop. It was really just mortifying to watch somebody do that to another person," Damian Trott said.

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A Pittsburgh police spokeswoman said the Office of Municipal Investigations is looking into the incident, which happened early Sunday morning, and any witnesses are being asked to come forward.

Trott said he was out celebrating his college graduation and he saw the commotion in front of The Flats on Carson around 2 a.m., so he went over to see what was happening.

"They threw a couple knees at him," said Trott. "They kicked him in the face. It was really just brutal to watch."

Trott tried to intervene, but he says Pittsburgh police officers threatened to arrest him and take his phone.

Court paperwork identifies the man who was being arrested at the time as Nathan Stanley III, 26.

According to the criminal complaint, Officer Raymond Toomey was working a security detail at The Flats when he was summoned by a bar security guard who said Stanley threatened him with a gun outside. Toomey wrote that Stanley -- identified as "John Doe" at the time -- had bloodshot, glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.

From the complaint:

"I attempted to ascertain what this male's issue was and why he was threatening anyone, to which he immediately stated, '(Expletive) ya'II man, western Pennsylvania is racist as (expletive). That's why ya'II cops gettin shot.' I explained to the male that he had enough for the evening and to go home. At that point, he made a motion that resembled a gun being shot with his hand passed my head towards The Flats bar security and said, 'Don't worry I got somethin for ya'II.' I then told Doe that he was under arrest and to place his hands behind his back. Doe stated, '(Expletive) you, I don't have to do (expletive),' and began to reach towards his waistband area with his right hand and said 'I got somethin for you too.' Given the previous threats by Doe, his aggressive demeanor towards myself and bar security, and the manner in which he reached for his waistband area with his right hand, I greatly feared that an attack was imminent at the time and I did not know what Doe's capabilities were. I forcefully shoved Doe away from the bar while holding onto his right arm to attempt to handcuff him. Doe grabbed ahold of a sign on the sidewalk and used it to resist my actions of forcefully handcuffing him. I was unable to gain control of Doe's right wrist. Doe maintained a firm grasp on the sign with his left arm/hand and continued reaching toward his waistband area with his right hand. (The bar security worker) then attempted to aid me in handcuffing by attempting a rear shoulder pin that was unsuccessful. It should be noted that the above encounter to this point lasted approximately 10 seconds due to being tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving. Because of that, I was unable to utilize my portable radio and ask for more backup."

Toomey wrote that Police Officer Welsh arrived at the scene to help him, but he still needed to use force to bring Stanley under control:

"Due to Doe's actions of still actively resisting, and because Doe attempted to choke me around my neck area (fearing strangulation), I PO Toomey delivered two (2) closed fist punches to Doe's midsection and two (2) closed fist punches to Doe's face. Doe would still not let go of the sign so I was able to sweep Doe's legs with my arms and get him to the ground. Doe's arms now went underneath his body and stiffened up so thatofficers were unable to grab them for forcible handcuffing. I then delivered one (1) knee strike and one (1) kick to Doe's facial area out of fear that Doe's arms were underneath his body because he was still attempting to reach towards his waistband for a weapon. Officers shouted in clear, loud manners for Doe to stop resisting and place his hands behind his back. At this point, I was able to gain control of Doe's left arm and pull it forcefully from underneath his body and ready it for handcuffing. PO Welsh did the same with Doe's right arm/wrist and Doe was handcuffed by PO Welsh. Doe continued to scream profanities and encourage the crowd to cause violence towards Officers on scene to the point where a crowd began to form a semi-circle around PO Welsh and I. The sidewalk was now completely blocked causing a hazard for the general public due to Doe's actions."

An online docket shows that Stanley is charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Trott says he believes the man should not have been treated as he was.

"I really hate to see this type of stuff happening," he said. "I would really like to see something done about it to where we can work on better policing, especially within this community and all over the country."